Torsten Plösch

The reproductive origins of Health and Disease

PI: Torsten Plösch

Research:

Our research is focused on the influence of the early fetal and neonatal environment on the health of the offspring at adult age (BARKER hypothesis, DOHaD hypothesis, Developmental Origins of Health and Disease). Specifically, we study how disturbances in maternal-fetal nutrient supply during pregnancy and early postnatal nutrition influence later metabolic regulation, namely with regards to lipid metabolism and cardiovascular diseases. The key idea is that nutrients or other biologically active molecules induce epigenetic changes in the placenta, embryo, fetus or newborn which persist into adulthood and hence change the susceptibility to develop chronic disease (metabolic programming, epigenetic programming).

Our projects therefore focus on several aspect of early development: In material from early human pregnancy we aim to identify epigenetic changes preceding developmental complications. On the other hand, we study how maternal diabetes, maternal lifestyle or pregnancy complications such as preeclampsia can lead to epigenetic modifications in the placenta or the offspring. In these conditions we also address how nutrients (e.g., lipids) are transported via the placenta and how this can be modified - this may lead to putative therapeutic strategies in future. Finally, a new research focus is the influence of of the microbiome via its metabolites on the host epigenome.

Torsten Plösch studied biology at the University of Oldenburg, Germany, and received his PhD in 2004 from the University of Groningen (“The ABC of cholesterol transport”; supervisor: Prof. F. Kuipers). He then established Epigenetic Programming as a new research focus at the University Medical Center Groningen. Currently, he is University Lecturer at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology of the UMCG.